McGinn always tough against Providence

Sunday

Jan 30, 2011 at 6:00 AM

The fancy word is nemesis, and every team has one. The Sharks hope they never see Mark Mancari again, and the Providence Bruins thought they never would see Jamie McGinn again. But McGinn, down from San Jose for the All-Star break for a couple of games, got to play one of those games against the P-Bruins and struck again, scoring twice last night.

By Bill Ballou TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

The fancy word is nemesis, and every team has one.

The Sharks hope they never see Mark Mancari again, and the Providence Bruins thought they never would see Jamie McGinn again.

But McGinn, down from San Jose for the All-Star break for a couple of games, got to play one of those games against the P-Bruins and struck again, scoring twice last night.

“I know I usually do pretty well against them,” McGinn said. “We play them so much.”

It's not just the schedule, though. For his AHL career, McGinn has 33 goals, including the postseason. He has 13 in 22 games against Providence, 20 in 77 games against everybody else.

McGinn didn't play as though he looked at his assignment to the AHL as a demotion.

“I didn't want to come down here and just loaf around,” he said. “I wanted to contribute. These are two big wins for us, and I don't know what's gonna happen next week, but I was glad to be a part of them.”

Each goaltender, Alex Stalock and Nolan Schaefer, made a head-shaking save.

Stalock had Kirk MacDonald doing a back-and-forth at 17:08 of the second period, making a body save on a shot from close in. Schaefer had Andrew Desjardins wondering “what the heck?” late in the third period, making a great glove stop with Desjardins just outside the crease.

“He's a good goalie and it was a great save,” Desjardins said, “but the puck was kind of flopping around and, honestly, I think if it was flat I would have been able to score a goal.”

The last time Shawn Thornton was at a game here, he played in it.

That was Oct. 27, 2006, when the Sharks beat Thornton and the Portland Pirates, 4-2. The crowd for that one was 3,274 and Thornton probably signed at least that many autographs during last night's game.

The Boston Bruins' tough guy was on hand as the NHL took its All-Star break. Many big leaguers head for Key West or Bermuda during their time off, but not Thornton.

“We've spent so much time on the road lately,” he said, “that I really just wanted to be able to sleep in my own bed for a few days and not have to think about hockey.”

Thornton was so busy signing autographs that he didn't have time to watch much of the game. “That's OK,” he said. “I played 605 games in the AHL. I've seen enough games in this league.”

What team was he rooting for — the Sharks who brought him here for a personal appearance, or the Bruins?

“Has to be the Bruins,” Thornton said. “They pay the bills.”

Justin Braun left immediately after the game for the All-Star Classic in Hershey. He will be Worcester's only representative there. Team president Mike Mudd went with Braun and the Sharks' contingent stopped in Springfield on the way to Pennsylvania.

Falcons general manager Bruce Landon organized a bus for Atlantic Division people going to Hershey and it was also going to stop in Hartford before finishing the ride.

Worcester's next game is here on Friday night. The AHL All-Star break ends with practice Thursday morning.

Steven Zalewski played in his 208th game, tying Riley Armstrong for second on the team's all-time list. The late Tom Cavanagh is first with 216. Zalewski is also the Sharks' reigning ironman. He has played 51 in a row — all 48 this season and the last three of 2009-10.

The Sharks' lineup was identical to Friday night. It included 12 players with NHL experience. … McGinn's short-handed goal was the first for Worcester since Nov. 21. … Attendance was 7,273. That pushed the Sharks over 750,000 all-time. They have drawn 23,951 for four games on the homestand.

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